Volt chief engineer takes first drive in integration prototype [w/VIDEO]

[TheLegend]

I'm lead developer for GM's driving simulator in Warren (I work for the company that builds the simulator, not GM).

I've met the entire Volt team, as they are using the simulator in their development process.

Andrew Farah is a very smart guy, I've met him. I don't know why he is wasting his time with GM though. The Volt team, moreso the executives above them, are clueless to the current alternative energy market.

These guys are working hard, but I see this as being a massive flop. Too much GM old style of thinking getting in the way.

The guys I've met are Andrew Farah, Frank Weber, and Tony Posawatz (vehicle line executives).

The problem is GM will go second rate on all the little details of the car , trying to get it out by end of 2010, and it's quality is going to be bad, especially for a 40k car (if the thing even works).

GM right now is not a collaborative work environment , everyone is fighting to keep their jobs (not me, I just sit back and observe as a supplier). So groups work against each other rather than towards a common purpose.

I'm probably the only person in this square mile facility that is going to buy a new Prius (once cash for clunkers takes effect).

[hill]

Your view corroborates what most of us feel ... stodgy leadership/status quo ... shuffling the deck ... but the samo ol' cards.


Daniel, I saw one of your cars while at the event where the Volt was being shown off ... only it was on a much more 'nostalgic' version. [...] What do you think ... you like?





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[daniel]

Originally Posted by DaveinOlyWA

now is it just me? have i discounted what i have heard and simply forgotten about it?? heck what is the size of the pack? the size of the motor, the range??

ok, granted some of it i forgot was because the numbers kept changing, so if i think hard, i do remember a vehicle that has a 10 to 40 mile EV range and will cost $22,000 to $45,000

ok, that brings it all into focus no problem

No, it's not just you. The whole campaign has been glitz and glitter, without substance. Each year the price goes up and the EV range goes down and the production date gets farther away. Evan will be driving his Tesla Model S 100+ miles on a charge and GM (if it has not collapsed entirely by then) will still be saying that the battery technology does not exist to give a (by then) $55,000 car a 20-mile range.

By the time they sell it (if they ever do) it will cost $60,000 and the federal rebate will have expired and it will go 10 miles on a charge and will have the general build quality of a $10,000 car. Nobody will buy it and GM will say, "You see, nobody wants electric cars!" and Tesla Motors will have every Model S sold a year before it rolls off the production line.

Originally Posted by hill

Daniel, I saw one of your cars while at the event where the Volt was being shown off ... only it was on a much more 'nostalgic' version. [...] What do you think ... you like?

Kind of doesn't really look like a Porsche to me. Of course, I like everything electric (except maybe the eBox, since it's made out of the ugliest car on the road). But as Porsches go, that one would not have been my choice.

[DaveinOlyWA]

ok, glanced at the pic, didnt read the caption, i thought it was a ferrari...is that a real EV?

[DetPrius]

Originally Posted by TheLegend

I'm lead developer for GM's driving simulator in Warren (I work for the company that builds the simulator, not GM).

I've met the entire Volt team, as they are using the simulator in their development process.

Andrew Farah is a very smart guy, I've met him. I don't know why he is wasting his time with GM though. The Volt team, moreso the executives above them, are clueless to the current alternative energy market.

These guys are working hard, but I see this as being a massive flop. Too much GM old style of thinking getting in the way.

The guys I've met are Andrew Farah, Frank Weber, and Tony Posawatz (vehicle line executives).

The problem is GM will go second rate on all the little details of the car , trying to get it out by end of 2010, and it's quality is going to be bad, especially for a 40k car (if the thing even works).

GM right now is not a collaborative work environment , everyone is fighting to keep their jobs (not me, I just sit back and observe as a supplier). So groups work against each other rather than towards a common purpose.

I'm probably the only person in this square mile facility that is going to buy a new Prius (once cash for clunkers takes effect).

No, Legend, you aren't the only one in that square mile facility buying a new Prius. Maybe we can park next to each other!

[JimN]

Tesla has 1 driveable Model S. GM has 1 driveable Volt. Tie ballgame!

The Model S has generated more than $3.6 million cash flow. GM has managed to get $0 from the Volt faithful.

I'm sure GM will be able to assemble the balance of their preproduction fleet before Tesla assembles a similar number but that will be the last time GM is ahead.

In the electric car market I believe Tesla is #1 and Toyota is #2 with the new Rav4EV conversions. GM has a long way to go before it moves into 3rd place with the Volt.

Evan, what's your number?

[daniel]

Originally Posted by JimN

In the electric car market I believe Tesla is #1 and Toyota is #2 with the new Rav4EV conversions.

Is Toyota building an EV again??? If you are talking about aftermarket conversions, I don't think you can credit Toyota.

Don't forget Aptera, which has prototypes on the road being tested. The so-called "Volt" is not a test prototype, it's just a publicity show car.

Then there are Zenn and Zap and Miles, all of which are building and selling EVs, which puts all of them ahead of GM and Toyota. AC propulsion is a grey category, since they are a fairly large-scale conversion operation, converting Scions. But what they lack in quantity they make up for in performance.

Tesla is number 1. GM is not even on the list! But numerous small companies are selling EVs today. And if the Volt ends up coming out with a 7 or 8 mile EV range, and 25 mpg when running on gasoline, would you even call it an electric car?

[hill]

Originally Posted by daniel

. . . . . . . snip

Kind of doesn't really look like a Porsche to me. Of course, I like everything electric (except maybe the eBox, since it's made out of the ugliest car on the road). But as Porsches go, that one would not have been my choice.

It's the 1950's speedster type. Vintage. Like this one:




Unless your an ol' fossle like me, you probably don't remember that style.

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[daniel]

I remember the 1950's, but I know nothing about cars.

[darelldd]

Originally Posted by JimN

In the electric car market I believe Tesla is #1 and Toyota is #2 with the new Rav4EV conversions.

I'm not following this. What Rav4EV conversions from Toyota?

Originally Posted by hill

It's the 1950's speedster type. Vintage.

One of my favorite non-female bodies EVER.